BROCKTON – The produce section at the Brockton Market Basket at Westgate Mall is usually bright with vibrant fresh fruits and vegetables.

Monday, the dominant color was black.

A few lemons and a pair of oranges sat on the black-bottomed produce shelves, while laminated signs were the only indicators that the grocery chain ever carried onions, tomatoes or broccoli.

The ouster of president Arthur T. Demoulas by the Market Basket board of directors has sparked a large protest at the company’s headquarters in Tewksbury last weekend, and local customers have become a casualty.

Employees at the warehouse and main office have stopped working, meaning no deliveries to Brockton, West Bridgewater, Raynham or any of the company’s 71 stores.

Market Basket’s board removed the company president and two other top executives after months of infighting, prompting the employee protests. The board is controlled by Arthur T. Demoulas’ rival cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas.

A letter and a petition calling for Demoulas’ reinstatement were prominently displayed at the Brockton location Monday, along with a handwritten sign behind the customer service counter that read, “We support Artie T. Demoulas. More for your dollar.”

There were also signs with Demoulas’ likeness in the style of Barack Obama’s “Hope” campaign posters, with the words, “I Believe” printed at the bottom.

“I’m sick to my stomach over all of this,” said Brockton Market Basket manager Glenn Connors.

“My strong feeling is that if he (Demoulas) was in power, none of this would be going on,” said Connors, a 36-year employee.

At the West Bridgewater Market Basket on Route 106, a letter to the customers was on display. It stated, in part: “Please understand we must stand up for what we believe in.”

At that location, two people held signs outside that read, “Boycott Market Basket” and “Bring Back ATDemoulas.”

Outside, Erika Lesofsky was one of two employees collecting signatures.

At least four customers declined to sign the petition walking into the store, but signed it on their way out, after seeing the dwindling stock.

“They see the shelves are empty and they want the stuff back,” said Lesofsky, a six-year employee of the chain.

Debbie Wheeler, an East Taunton resident who usually shops at the Raynham Market Basket, left the West Bridgewater store without the water, lettuce and crackers she stopped in to buy on Monday.

“There’s not much in the store,” she said. “It’s not very good for the consumer; that’s for sure.”

Page 2 of 2 - Danny Humann, who has worked for Market Basket for three years, stood out in front of the West Bridgewater store to show his solidarity for the company’s former leader.

Humann said he loves his job and has worked in produce for more than two years. He noticed that after a few days without a delivery, his department is looking bare.

“You’re lucky to have a couple potatoes left,” Humann said.

While Connors says his first priority is to serve customers, a continued halt in deliveries will make that nearly impossible for the Brockton store, which receives deliveries six days a week.

“If this went on for a week, this store would be in rough shape,” Connors said.